San Jose Sharks not so sure silence is golden

SAN JOSE -- According to Sharks forward Adam Burish, the Sharks are a much more effective team when there's some chatter and loose banter among the players before each game and between each period.

Such was the case Sunday, as the Sharks didn't show any obvious signs of nervousness on the ice and put together what may have been their best game of the Western Conference semifinal series against the Los Angeles Kings, winning 2-1 at HP Pavilion.

"In the locker room before the game, there was some excitement. This team plays well when we're loose, when we're excited and having fun," Burish said. "It's not a tense group. This group's not good when we're tense and we're nervous."

Burish said the team will "crack a joke here or there," but mainly the Sharks are talking about what their plan is for the night, to create discussion among the players instead of having everyone internalize their thoughts.

"Silence sometimes can kill you," Burish said. "Silence in this locker room can make you nervous."

When Burish was signed last summer, it was hoped he would do the things that's kept him in the NHL for six-plus seasons -- be a penalty killer, block shots and be effective in the faceoff circle. But he was also brought aboard to provide a vocal element in the Sharks' locker room.

The same can be said for Scott Gomez, who has won two Stanley Cups, both with New Jersey, and can hardly be considered a wallflower in the Sharks' room.

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"It took us a while to realize that, we seem to respond better when guys are," talking to each other, Gomez said. "It's a green light for everyone. No one's off limits. Maybe you're telling a guy to pick it up, but in a joking manner.

"There's a lot of respect in here. It's one of those groups where we enjoy being together, we enjoy the room and it makes it easy when everyone has the green light."